I knew the wise thing to do would be to try and get some sleep, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t. My mind was too restless, so instead, I paced around my bedroom while Alexander watched me with his little observant red eyes.
You’re looking a little pale there, Cole, he said.
“Yeah, well, I’m not feeling so hot,” I muttered and rubbed at my forehead. “We practiced shadow splitting this morning, and to be honest, it took a heavy toll on me.”
I don’t know what that is, but it sounds painful, he responded.
“Well, I can you tell you one thing,” I grunted. “It wasn’t a pleasant experience.”
So, why don’t you lay down? he asked.
“I can’t,” I sighed. “I have a special dinner to get ready for… besides, my mind is racing. There’s no way I can sleep.”
Sleeping is natural, he remarked. You just close your eyes and let the world and all its worries drift away... at least for a little while.
“Easy for you to say,” I scoffed. “You’re a rabbit, you could lay down all day if you wish.”
Hey, I do more than lounge about all day, he argued and twitched his little nose at me.
“Sure, you do.” I smirked.
“Sir, would you care for a bath before you get ready?” Cordelia suddenly asked. “I have three different outfit options for you tonight.”
“Why so many?” I questioned.
“The headmistress said your dinner was extremely important,” she responded. “So, I thought I’d take the liberty of giving you a few different choices.”
“That was very thoughtful of you, Cordelia.” I smiled. “What would I do without you?”
“Oh, sir,” the invisible maid cooed. “You’re going to make an old maid blush.”
Is that even possible? Alexander snorted.
“I don’t think so,” I chuckled under my breath.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?” Cordelia asked. “Perhaps a cup of wine or tea?”
Before I responded, I looked up toward the ceiling, as if I were going to see her floating there.
“I think I’ll have that bath before I make any more decisions,” I answered.
“Very well, sir,” she obediently replied.
When I walked into the bathroom, the tub was filled to the brim with steaming, purple water, and the room smelled of lavender and rosemary. So, I quickly undressed and then stepped into the bath, and as I sunk deeper into the hot water, a relaxed smile came to my face.
“Cordelia, is there something different about this bath?” I questioned. “Did you add something special to the water?”
“Well, I did add a dash of unicorn powder, fairy wings, and siren skin,” she replied, and her voice was filled with pride. “I overheard your conversation, and I figured you could probably use a little help recovering from class.”
“That was very thoughtful of you,” I said.
“Anything for you, sir,” her voice echoed. “I’ll leave you to it, then. If you need anything else, just holler!”
“Thank you,” I answered.
I sank deeper into the tub while the water worked its magic, but as I relaxed, my mind wandered back to the red silhouette of my shadow form. I couldn’t help but wonder why no one else saw those massive horns.
Did I imagine things? I didn’t think so, but who knew.
Maybe I was starting to officially lose my shit.
After some time, I sighed, shook my head, and carefully stepped out of the tub. Luckily, my body felt brand new. The exhaustion had vanished entirely, and when I strolled into the bedroom, three different outfits were neatly laid out for me.
Cordelia had picked three unique button-down shirts and splayed them out on the bed, and each one was paired with dark-colored slacks. I had the choice between a dark emerald shirt, a vibrant red high-collared top, or a jet-black button down. As I stared at the red fabric, flashes of the crimson shadow seeped back into my mind, and I shook my head to rid myself of the fresh memory.
“No more red for tonight,” I whispered to myself.
So, I ended up picking the emerald shirt, and as I fumbled with the buttons, Alexander hopped onto the bed and then looked up at me with his small twitching nose.
You look good, he commented. That color definitely suits you.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
Hey, why do you sound so fucking bitter? he asked. If I were you, I’d be thrilled.
“Why?” I cocked an eyebrow at my familiar. “You do realize I’m dining with a creepy headmaster, right?”
So? he asked. Creepy or not, who doesn’t get excited about dinner?
“Aha, feasting and fucking,” I chuckled. “That’s really all you care about. Sorry, sometimes, I forget you’re an animal… must be nice to lead such a simple life.”
Yep, life is good, he snickered.
I finished getting dressed and swung my Scholomance cloak over my shoulders. Then I smoothed down any creases and wrinkles and took a long, deep breath before I stared back at Alexander.
“Well,” I said, “what do you think?”
Looking sharp as a knife, he answered.
His words rang in my ears like an echo, and I thought of an idea, so I edged toward my desk and then pulled open one of the drawers. Inside laid my old dagger, which I crafted during my preschool term, and I gently picked it up and studied it under the dim bedroom light.
Wooooow, fancy knife, Alexander said, and his tone was clearly impressed.
“It’s a dagger,” I corrected him before I tucked it into the back of my trousers.
Why are you bringing a knife to dinner? he asked. Doesn’t the other school use silverware?
“They do, but that’s not why I’m bringing it,” I chuckled.
Then why are you? he questioned.
“Because I’d rather be safe than sorry,” I answered. “Who knows what Ravana has up his sleeves… literally.”
I took one last look in the sea-glass mirror and ran my fingers through my ebony hair. Then I breathed in slowly and tried to steady my violent heartbeat and clammy hands. I couldn’t afford to be anxious, not in front of Headmaster Ravana. Something told me the man could smell fear like a predator smelled blood.
“Alright.” I nodded at Alexander. “I’m fucking ready.”
Good luck, he said. Don’t worry, you’ve got this in the bag.
“Thanks,” I responded before I headed out the door. “I’ll see you later.”
When I swept past the common room, it was completely empty. There was no sign that any of the witches had returned, and I briefly wondered if they were still out in the woods practicing with their shadows. It was growing dark, and a small part of me was worried about them, but my own women had the blood pact to protect them, so I tried to ease my nerves and not worry too much about it. I really couldn’t afford to be stressing about two different things simultaneously, so I swiftly shook my head and then walked out the door.
I sauntered down the corridors and did my best not to make eye contact with any wandering students, and as I made my way toward Theodora’s office, I ignored the eerie portraits staring at me with their curious eyes and deep frowns.
Finally, when I was in front of the headmistress’ office, I cleared my throat and knocked three hard times on the door. A moment later, the door swung open by itself, and as soon as I stepped past the threshold, I spotted Theodora sitting at her desk with a quill and a piece of parchment floating in the air.
“Ah, Cole,” she said before she flicked her wrist, and then the quill stopped scribbling. “How are you feeling? Better, I hope?”
“Yes, I am, thank you,” I answered.
The headmistress gently pushed herself out of her seat and then gracefully strolled across the room. As soon as she was standing in front of me, her gaze skipped over my face before she lifted her hand and brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes.
“You look incredibly handsome,” she breathed. “Tell me, truthfully, are you nervous?”
“A bit,” I admitted.
“A little bit of nerves is a healthy sign,” she said before she brushed something off my shoulder. “If you weren’t nervous, I’d think you were mad.”
“Well… I’m ready when you are,” I said as I looked around the office. “The only problem is, I don’t know how to get into the Mors section of the castle.”
Theodora smiled and then edged closer to her tall, flaring fireplace, and she was so close to the flames that I was afraid her gown would catch on fire. Then she began reorganizing random objects on top of the mantlepiece, and I was starting to wonder if she was going mad.
“Err…Headmistress?” I asked as I cleared my throat. “We really shouldn’t keep Headmaster Ravana waiting--”
“And we won’t,” she cut me off in a calm tone.
As soon as she was done rearranging a small golden clock, a silver candelabra, and a statue of a black owl, the fire quickly died, and a low rumbling sound emitted from the floor. In the next moment, the embers went out completely, and then the fireplace began to split in two. The stones neatly repositioned themselves, and after a moment, Theodora was standing in front of a gaping, open fireplace.
I stared at the dark opening, and when I edged closer to the black hole, I could feel an icy breeze sweep past me.
“Just walk right through, and you’ll find yourself within their corridors,” Theodora instructed. “There’s another entrance, but I’d prefer it if you’d use this one. It’s my personal and private entrance… I’m sure he won’t mind.”
“Alright.” I nodded firmly. “Before I go, do you have any more advice to give me?”
“Just trust your instincts,” she whispered as if it were a dark secret. “It has gotten you this far. Now, go… as you said, we wouldn’t want to keep Ravana waiting.”
I nodded before I took in a slow, deep breath and then walked right through the dark passageway. The air was damp and chilly, just like the belly of a cave, and as soon as I heard the fireplace close behind me, I pulled out my wand and raised it above my eye level.
“Illuminana,” I hissed.
A bright flame guided my way through the dank, narrow stone passageway, and the air grew colder as I ventured deeper into the clammy bowels of the castle. Soon, rats began to scurry across my leather boots, and I accidentally stepped on one. The creature made a terrible squealing sound before I crushed its bones and organs, and I grimaced at the wet popping noise.
“Fuck,” I hissed as I looked down.
Blood, small bones, and gore were splattered like paint below me, and I had to furiously wipe my boots against the stone walls to remove any traces of rat guts.
I pushed onward and carefully avoided any more rats until finally, I came across a narrow wooden door. I blew out the flame from my wand and then slowly pushed it open. When I stepped past the threshold, I was standing in a pale stone corridor with no portraits and barely any candlelight or signs of life. No students were wandering down the hallways, and for a moment, I wondered how I would find Headmaster Ravana.
I looked around, and I knew I couldn’t stand here all night, so I slowly sauntered down the bare halls. Suddenly, a loud noise came from behind me, and when I whipped around, I saw Lex and a group of other warlock students. They had been laughing amongst themselves as they turned the corner, but as soon as they met my eyes, their faces slowly fell. I stared back at them until, finally, Lex took a step closer toward me.
“Cole?” He grinned. “What brings you to our neck of the woods?”
The pale-haired warlock edged a little closer to me while his posse remained behind. As he walked toward me, he shoved his hands into his pockets, and the corners of his lips twitched as his smile grew.
“I have an arranged dinner with your headmaster,” I replied in a cool tone. “Do you know where I can find him?”
“He should be in his office,” the warlock answered. “Come along, I’ll take you to him.”
I still didn’t trust this guy, but what other choice did I have? I couldn’t just aimlessly wander through the unadorned halls all night, so I dipped my chin.
“Thank you,” I answered.
Lex nodded, and then the other warlocks disappeared into a different corridor as he led me in the opposite direction.
“So, how are your classes going?” Lex asked after we’d walked in silence for a few moments.
“Fine,” I said in a curt, but polite tone.
“That’s good to hear,” Lex replied with his hands still shoved deep into his pockets. “I don’t know about you, but Headmaster Ravana has been berating us nonstop. I swear the man will beat us with a stick if we misquote one incantation. He’s a total hard-ass, but if you mention anything to him about it, I’ll deny it.”
I turned to look at Lex, and he flashed me a pearly white smile. I had a feeling he was trying to initiate a superficial, yet friendly, conversation, but perhaps that was because he wanted to see if I’d talk poorly about Theodora, and today wasn’t his lucky day.
I’d sooner die than betray her, even in the smallest way possible.
“Sorry to hear about that,” I remarked coolly. “It sounds grueling.”
“Eh.” He shrugged. “What are you going to do? Anyway, here we are.”
We came to a stop in front of a sleek, black door with a small golden knob, and as I stared at the entrance, I could feel a strange presence building up in the air. I couldn’t pinpoint what the feeling was exactly, but if I had to guess, it felt like a sinister warning. When I averted my gaze from the door and looked back at Lex, there was a mysterious smile plastered on his white, waxy face, and when he didn’t say another word, I forced myself to smile and then look back at the door.
“Thanks for leading the way,” I said, “I can take it from here.”
“Don’t mention it.” He nodded. “Have a good night.”
He offered me a handshake, and I had to force myself to take his hand and firmly grip it. When he released me from his hot grasp, he grinned at me one last time before he swiftly turned around and then disappeared down the pale corridor.
As soon as he was gone, I took in a deep, steady breath and then knocked hard on the door.
This was it. Time to find out if this warlock was a traitor as well as a bastard.
“Come in!” Headmaster Ravana called out.
I gently pushed the door open, and the first thing I saw was Headmaster Ravana, seated at the head of a plentiful, food covered table. I spotted all kinds of dishes and empty gold platters, and as soon as I stepped past the threshold, the door shut itself behind me, and Ravana shot me a toothy grin. He was wearing an oversized, shapeless black robe with long sleeves that reached his fingertips, his fingers were adorned with large golden rings, and his nails were long and dirty.
“Cole!” he bellowed. “Welcome, welcome… I hope you brought your appetite with you.”
I forced myself to smile and then quickly looked around. Ravana’s office was massive and even grander and more lavishly decorated than Theodora’s. The walls were painted a royal red, and the floors were made of rich dark wood. Massive bear rugs covered the floor, and heavy velvet curtains hung over a window by his grand, golden desk, but since we were underground, I had no idea what use the man had for a window. There were also at least five different self-portraits of Ravana himself hanging in the room, and I briefly wondered why someone so hideous would want to stare at themselves so often.
“Well, it has been a long day.” I grinned. “I’m famished.”
“That’s what I like to hear!” he chuckled deeply. “Go on now, take a seat! Don’t be shy.”
“Thank you.” I nodded and then sat next to the strange headmaster.
Headmaster Ravana began to fill up his gold plate with chunks of dark red meat, foreign fruits, fresh greens, purple potatoes, and pickled peppers. I followed his lead, and even though I wasn’t that hungry, I loaded up my own plate with meat and veggies. Then the headmaster leaned forward to pour us both a healthy serving of black wine, and when our glasses were filled to the brim, he leaned back in his seat and smiled at me.
“Cheers!” he said as he lifted his goblet into the air. “To health and prosperity.”
I smiled and then raised my own cup before I took a hesitant sip. My eyes studied Ravana as he drank deeply, and since we were drinking from the same pitcher, I figured it wasn’t poisoned.
“So,” he said before he stabbed a piece of red meat with his fork. “How have you been faring here at Scholomance?”
“It’s been an adventure,” I replied as I slowly cut into my own meat, and I watched as blood and grease seeped into the rest of my food. “I am very grateful to be here, and Theodora has been nothing but welcoming since the beginning.”
“Yes, when I asked about you, she mentioned you arrived on a night of heavy blood fall,” he remarked. “Many would consider that a sign.”
“A sign of what?” I asked as I thoughtfully chewed.
“Of great power, of course,” he scoffed, and flecks of meat landed on my skin.
I fought the urge to wipe away the spit and specks of food on my face as he stared into my eyes. I didn’t want to show any discomfort or vulnerabilities to this man, so I maintained eye contact with him, and he was so close that I could smell his sour breath and count his black nose hairs.
“Please, eat,” he said and gestured toward the food. “I don’t like it when people are shy about food, it’s meant to be eaten and enjoyed, for hell’s sake.”
My eyes never left his beady black ones as I stabbed another piece of red meat with my fork. I slowly chewed on the strange, spiced meat and then swallowed.
“It’s delicious,” I lied.
Truthfully, it was too raw and greasy for my liking, but I forced the slimy meat down my throat anyway.
“So,” the headmaster continued, “I hope you don’t have any hard feelings about the last game. I’ll be the first to admit I was a bit heated, and I might have said some nasty things in the spur of the moment.”
“It’s no problem,” I replied with a forced smile. “I mean… you found a solution, didn’t you?”
“Ah, yes.” He nodded. “You’ve met Lex… he’s far more mature than Malcolm ever was. I know it’s all in the past, but I do sincerely apologize for the mess he caused.”
“I’ve put it all behind me,” I reassured him, and I smirked as I pictured Malcolm and Bram’s mangled bodies.
“Well, good,” Ravana said before he wiped his greasy lips with a napkin. “Because I have a proposition for you.”
“Is that so?” I replied with a raised eyebrow.
Now, I was feeling more intrigued than cautious, and I took a small sip of wine before he continued speaking.
“Yes, in fact, that’s why I’ve asked you here tonight,” he admitted as he leaned back into his chair. “You know, Headmistress Theodora would call me blasphemous for saying this aloud, but I believe in other devils and deities… Why worship only one master of evil when there could be dozens?”
I chewed on my lower lip, and then suddenly, the idea of eating this rare and overly salted meat seemed grotesquely unappetizing. So, I gently pushed the plate away and then forced myself to look back at Ravana.
“You’re right,” I answered with a tight smile. “That is blasphemous.”
“And so what?” he responded as he tossed his hands up into the air. “We’re speaking freely, and it’s only you and me in this room… there aren’t any women around to try and sway your mind any differently--”
“I can think for myself,” I cut him off. “My mind is my own.”
“I know,” he replied with wide, eager eyes. Then he leaned forward, and his face was so close, it took all my willpower not to flinch away from his horrid breath. “That’s why I think you’d make a magnificent warlock. Why waste your potential among witches? You were clearly destined for greatness… we all know it. I watched you closely during the games. You have great power.”
“Thank you.” I nodded. “But I’ll always stand by my coven… and my academy. Nothing or no one could ever change my mind.”
Ravana held my gaze for a long moment before he leaned back into his chair again and smirked. He drummed his long fingers along the table, and his golden rings shimmered under the faint candlelight. His face was a mask of stone, but inside, I could tell he was fuming. This dinner had obviously been a ruse to try and turn me against Scholomance, but now the headmaster realized I wasn’t a weak pawn to be swayed by his gilded words.
And by his twitching eyebrow, I knew it pissed him the fuck off.
Good.
“Very well,” he finally sighed dramatically. “If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me.”
I nodded as he swiftly stood up from his chair, and I quickly took the hint. This dinner, finished or not, was officially over.
“To get back to your own section of the castle, just head down the corridor you came in and take a turn on the right,” he instructed with a dismissive wave of his hand. “There you will find one of my portraits. Just mutter ‘patentibus,’ and the painting should swing right open.
“Alright… thank you,” I said, “and thank you for dinner.”
“Well, you didn’t eat much of it,” he commented, and I couldn’t tell if he was joking.
But I decided not to wait around to find out.
“Have a good night,” I said before I headed toward the door and quickly pushed it open.
“You as well,” he called out after me. “And remember… my proposition will always be open to you. Your place is here, with men, and not with those weak women who despise your power.”
“I’ll think on it.” I turned to face him one last time and nodded, and his rat-like eyes sent another cautionary chill up my spine before I left his office and then quickly shut the door. I followed Ravana’s instructions and found myself in front of his uncanny self-portrait. He was much younger in the painting, but he still had the same crooked nose, long black beard, and small beady dark eyes.
“Patentibus,” I said.
The painting swung open, and I stepped past the threshold and into a familiar hallway. As soon as I was out of the white-washed and lifeless Mors corridors, I felt as if I could properly breathe again.
“Thank Satan,” I muttered to myself.
The dinner, while grotesque, had been enlightening. I didn’t have proof that Ravana was working with the elder gods or their believers, but his words were certainly suspicious. I knew Theodora would want to hear all about it, too, but it was late, and I was tired. So, the headmistress could wait until tomorrow for my report.
With that decided, I strolled through the darkened castle and headed back toward the common room, but when I stepped inside, I was surprised to see both groups of Scholomance witches huddled together by the fireplace. A pitcher of wine was placed in front of the women, and as soon as they heard me come in, they all swiveled their heads in my direction.
“Cole!” Faye grinned. “We were beginning to worry about you.”
“I’m alright,” I answered as I looked around. “What’s going on here?”
“We’ve only been here for an hour or so,” Morgana explained. “We spent all day trying to control our shadows, and we finally managed to do it by the time the sun set.”
“Well, most of us did,” Akira muttered before she quickly glanced at the twins. “No offense, you two.”
“None taken,” Ivy sighed as she ran a hand through her blue-streaked hair.
“You’ll get it next time,” Penelope reassured the duo. “Don’t worry.”
“Not that I’m complaining,” I said with an arched eyebrow, “but I’m a little surprised to see all of you getting along so well in our quarters. Is this a special occasion?”
“No, I just stole a bottle of wine from Vanessa’s office and invited everyone to join us.” Akira grinned. “I thought it would be a relaxing way to end an arduous day.”
“And it’s a fine wine, aging back a couple hundred years,” Vesta added before she took a small, delicate sip. “It’s positively divine.”
“Yeah, the wine is good, but I can’t get over how nice it is in here,” Penelope commented as she looked around the common room. “Your place is fit for royalty compared to our boring bedrooms.”
“Yes, being a part of my coven comes with certain… perks.” I smirked.
“No shit,” the orange-haired witch snorted, but I thought I saw a pale blush tint the arches of her cheekbones.
“Anyway, Cole, how did dinner go?” Akira breathed and drew my attention, and her eyes were wide with anticipation when I turned to face her.
“What dinner?” Beatrix asked with furrowed eyebrows.
“I had dinner with the Mors Headmaster, and it was… interesting,” I replied before I walked over to join them, and for a moment, I thought about lying, but I had a feeling I could trust these women. “He wants me to become a warlock.”
“What?” my coven all gasped in unison.
“The audacity!” Morgana shrieked. “How dare he even insinuate such a thing?”
“It’s totally barbaric,” Vesta gasped. “I knew he was nothing but trouble.”
“You should tell Theodora,” Faye suggested as her red eyebrows pinched together.
“She’s right,” Penelope added, and her pink lips were pursed as well. “He’s clearly up to something.”
“Even so,” I said as I sat down between Penelope and Faye, “there’s nothing I can do about it now. I’ll have to be smart and watch his every move.”
“Are you sure?” Morgana asked as her dark eyebrows furrowed over her blue eyes.
“Yes.” I nodded firmly. “Theodora was the one who encouraged me to go, and something tells me there’s no need to worry about him… at least not yet.”
“Well, if you don’t think we have to worry, then I say we don’t worry.” Penelope shrugged. “In the meantime, I think we should do something fun.”
“Fun?” I echoed.
“Yes.” The bright-haired witch turned to look at me and then smiled mischievously.
“Sounds like you already have something in mind.” I smiled in return.
“I do,” she answered slowly.
“So, spit it out,” Akira insisted before she took a gulp of black wine.
“I think we should enter each others’ minds for fun,” Penelope proposed as she waggled her eyebrows. “I know it’s risky, but it could also be entertaining. Besides, some of us are going to have to work together during the final game, so we might as well get to know each other better. Build some camaraderie and all that shit. So, what do you say?”
I thought back to the third game and how my mind had managed to kill one warlock and drive the other one mad. I knew my mind was a dangerous place, but entering the minds of these sexy witches sounded like a hell of a fun time.
“I’m in,” I said, “let’s do it.”
“Excellent,” Penelope replied as she rubbed her hands together. “So, who wants to go first?”
“Wait,” Morgana interjected. “Are you suggesting we all enter the mind of just one person… at the same time?”
“Sure, why not?” The orange-haired witch grinned. “I know it’s possible.”
“It is possible,” Morgana answered as she twirled a lock of chocolate colored hair around her finger, “but that’s a lot of pressure to put on one witch.”
“Only if you’re afraid,” Penelope teased. “Oh, come on, I know you want to try it… it could be an educational experience.”
“I don’t know…” The bookworm chewed on her lower lip.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Akira sighed, “but I agree with Penelope. It sounds fun, so I say we do it.”
“But--”
“Morgana,” I cut off the brunette as I looked deeply into her blue eyes, “it’s going to be fine. Don’t be afraid. That’s a command.”
The bookish brunette’s face broke into a broad smile, and then she nodded in agreement.
“Okay, I’m in.” She nodded. “Who’s going to go first?”
I grinned as I looked around the group, and then my eyes found their way back to Morgana. I stared at her dark curly hair and soft blue eyes, and suddenly, I wanted to know everything about how her clever mind worked.
“You’ll go first,” I ordered, “and you won’t be afraid… you’ll free yourself from any barriers and allow us to penetrate your mind.”
She quickly nodded in agreement and then took in a deep breath.
“Alright, master,” she said, “I’m ready.”
Penelope frowned when Morgana called me ‘master,’ but I ignored this for the time being.
“Perfect,” I responded as I rubbed my hands together.
I turned my head and then looked at each witch, and they all had the same giddy expressions on their faces, even Penelope now. I could tell they were all excited, and so was I.
“This should be incredibly informative,” Akira said in her best Morgana impersonation.
The rest of the witches giggled, and Morgana turned a bright shade of pink.
“Very funny,” the bookworm muttered.
Once everyone was settled down, I took another look at each sexy witch and then grinned.
“Is everyone ready?” I asked.
The witches all nodded in unison and then retrieved their wands.
Morgana sat up straight, and her delicate features were set into a firm, stony expression. I knew she wasn’t going to fight against us, and her almond-shaped, ice-blue eyes were devoid of emotion as she prepared to allow us entry into her sophisticated mind. So, we all raised our arms and then aimed our wands at the composed bookworm before we uttered the spell.
“Mentis imperium!” we all shouted at the same time.
In the next moment, all our spells hit the bookworm at once, and then the common room vanished from view, and the world turned black.